Rate My Professor Noritaka Matsuo

Noritaka Matsuo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Matrix Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at Oita University. His research centers on the analysis of extracellular matrix molecules, particularly collagen, to elucidate the mechanisms of tissue and organ formation and maintenance through interactions between cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Understanding the roles of these matrix components is crucial for explaining physiological and pathological conditions in organisms. Matsuo specifically investigates the regulation of collagen genes and their functions. He also conducts searches for new substances in natural materials and analyzes their biological roles in maintaining individual homeostasis and improving daily health conditions, independent of pharmaceutical drugs. Additionally, his work includes identifying tissue-specific differentiation factors in mesenchymal stem cells and examining their functions, as these cells differentiate into bone, cartilage, skin, muscle, and fat cells. Despite extensive studies, the differentiation mechanisms remain unclear, and Matsuo emphasizes the involvement of the extracellular matrix in key steps, with potential applications in regenerative medicine.

Matsuo has made significant contributions through peer-reviewed publications on collagen gene regulation and related topics. Notable works include 'Collagen XXIV (Col24a1) gene expression is a specific marker of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation' in Connective Tissue Research (2008), 'CREB/AP1 protein complexes regulate transcription of the collagen XXIV gene (Col24a1) in osteoblasts' in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2006), 'Pro-α3(V) collagen chain is expressed in bone and its basic N-terminal peptide adheres to osteosarcoma cells' in Matrix Biology (2005), 'The transcription factor CCAAT-binding factor CBF/NF-Y and two repressors regulate the core promoter of the human pro-α3(V) collagen gene (COL5A3)' in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2004), 'Identification of a functional CBF-binding CCAAT-like motif in the core promoter of the mouse pro-α1(V) collagen gene (Col5a1)' in Matrix Biology (2004), 'p38 MAPK mediates the expression of type I collagen induced by TGF-β2 in human retinal pigment epithelial cells ARPE-19' in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2004), and 'The transcription factor CCAAT-binding factor CBF/NF-Y regulates the proximal promoter activity in the human α1(XI) collagen gene (COL11A1)' in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (2003). Earlier publications address tea polyphenols' inhibitory effects on chemical mediator release from rat peritoneal exudate cells in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry (2000) and related studies from the 1990s.